Biology Doctoral Student Combines Science With Service

ATLANTA — Chinonye Dim’s (M.S. ’23) journey to Georgia State began in her home country of Nigeria. After completing her bachelor’s degree in medical biochemistry at the University of Benin, she started looking for graduate programs to further her research.

“I thought about traveling abroad because most universities lacked funding, proper policies or professors in my area of concentration,” Dim said. “Then, I looked up Georgia State and saw Dr. Kumar’s research, and here I am years later."

Mukesh Kumar is an associate professor of biology. He specializes in the pathogenesis of infectious diseases like West Nile virus and Zika virus.

“We work on different emerging pathogens — viruses that impact our brain,” Kumar said. “At my lab here at Georgia State, we work on a number of these viruses and try to find vaccines and therapeutics.”

This research attracted Dim to Georgia State, where she earned her master’s degree in biological sciences in 2023. Kumar has been an influential mentor for Dim since she first volunteered to work in his lab while doing her master’s coursework.

Kumar’s support is part of the overall culture at the Atlanta research university frequently listed among the most innovative schools in the U.S. Professors are encouraged to enhance the student experience by building a community where they are easy to approach for advice and guidance.

“The professors always want the best for you,” Dim said. “I think the students also, we have a community where we support each other. That is very important.”

Dim said Kumar emphasizes how important it is to have a work-life balance, encouraging her and other students to take necessary breaks while doing their research.

When Dim isn’t in the lab conducting research, she enjoys volunteering for different organizations. Helping those in need is something she learned from her mother, who launched her own volunteer organization.

“I love the fact that volunteering takes us out of our own self where we’re able to give back,” Dim said.

She regularly volunteers with the American Red Cross. She’s a blood donor ambassador, making those giving blood comfortable and ensuring they have a positive experience. Dim also helps families recovering from disasters on the Red Cross Disaster Action Team, providing key emotional support as people start to rebuild.

Back in Nigeria, she and her siblings launched their own nonprofit, Lydia Help Organization. Dim and her siblings visit schools to speak with students about the importance of education and pursuing their dreams.

Dim is now in her first year of doctoral studies, where she’s studying flaviviruses like yellow fever.

"Yellow fever, I think, was initially isolated in 1927. It was not until 1938 that the first live, attenuated yellow fever vaccine was approved,” Dim explained. "But still, there are a lot of people getting infected with the virus. So, the need for more vaccines and antivirals is very important. And we’re still trying to understand these viruses."

Ultimately, Dim wants to return home and continue her work. She acknowledges there are not many pharmaceutical companies expanding what we know about flaviviruses in her country, and she hopes to change that.

Dim said she would like to contribute to industries in Nigeria, taking what she’s learned at Georgia State and conducting post-doctoral research or becoming a visiting professor to future scientists.

“Giving more, in a way that you don’t expect anything in return, is a way to actually grow as a human,” Dim said.

— By André Walker